Don’t you hate it when you want to prepare a meal but your favorite knife is nowhere to be found?

I know that I do.

I used to put all my knives in the drawer and when I need my chef knife it takes me ages to find it because sometimes my hubby puts it in the second drawer with stirring spoon and ladle even though I tell him all the time that the knives go in the first drawer.

But I guess that he just doesn’t listen.

But the one thing that really scares me is that my kids can easily open that drawer and take out the knives because they are at that age when they want to touch everything that is new and exciting.

That’s why I needed something that will store knives properly and look good in my kitchen without taking too much space and I can gladly say that I have found it.

What Is A Knife Block?

There are three ways that you can store knives: in the drawer, on the wall or in a knife block on the counter.

If you have extra space, you can put a magnetic knife strip on the wall above your counter to store your knives.

Good thing is that it’s practical because all of your knives are there so you don't have the trouble with searching them unlike when you put them in the drawer.

But, in order to store things on the wall, you'll need to have a magnetic knife strip that has a strong magnet but not too strong, because if the magnet is too strong its force will snap the knife on the strip too hard and it could chip it.

If you have some extra space on the counter than storing knives in the knife block may be the best solution.

A knife block is a kitchen utensil that is designed to safely store knives vertically, at angle, or sideways. It comes in different shapes and sizes and it’s mostly made from wood, steel or other materials.

Using a knife block keeps knives close at hand and easier to find and it looks good in your kitchen. Storing knives in the knife block is a much safer way than keeping them in the drawer and it also extends the lifespan of the knives as well.

How To Properly Choose A Good Knife Block?

Choosing a knife block depends on many things.

Before you choose your knife block it’s important that you determine what kind of knives you have in your kitchen in order to properly choose your knife block.

There is a wide range of kitchen knives but the most common knives that can be found in a knife block set is a chef knife, a bread knife, a carving knife, a utility knife, a steak knife and a paring knife.

A chef knife is a cutting utensil for food preparation. This is the most common knife type and it can be used for slicing, cutting and chopping vegetables or meat. It generally has a blade of 8 inches in length, but it can come in various sizes usually from 6 to 14 inches.

A bread knife is a serrated knife, made that way that it gives perfectly shaped slices of bread without crushing it. Bread knives are usually between 6 and 10 inches in length.

A carving knife is a large knife that is used for cutting thin and precise slices of meat. It's much thinner than a chef knife which enables it to cut thinner slices of meat than any other knife can. The average size of a carving knife is between 8 and 15 inches.

A utility knife's size is somewhere between chef's knife and paring knife usually from 4 to 7 inches. It's good for small jobs in the kitchen like cutting vegetables, fruits, and meat for sandwiches.

A steak knife is a sharp knife with a plain cutting edge but they can be also found with a serrated cutting edge. The average size of the steak knife is between 8 and 9 inches.

A paring knife is a small knife with the plain cutting edge that is mostly used for peeling and other small work such as removing seeds from vegetables or cutting garnishes. The paring knife is usually between 2 and 4 inches long.

Knife blocks are usually sold with only a base that has a lot of slots in different sizes for different types of knives but they can be also found with knives included too.

Things To Consider When Purchasing A Knife Block

Build Materials

There are three common materials that are used for knife blocks: plastic, wood, and steel.

Plastic knife blocks are commonly used, but they are not very durable because they can't hold too many knives.

Wooden knife blocks are good for knives that are prone to corrosion and rust because wood helps to remove excess water from the metal surface.

But the flaw is that you have to clean it more often because wet wood can become home for many kinds of bacteria.

Blocks that are made from stainless steel are easier to maintain, but like the plastic ones, they also can't hold too many knives in their slots.

Size Is Important

Before you purchase your knife block it’s important that you determine what knives you will keep in the knife block.

Knives come in different shapes and sizes, so it is important that you measure your knives and then go and search for a proper kitchen knife block that will be able to fit them all.

What If I tell you that you can store knives in a knife block and in the drawer at the same time?

Well, you can because this is an in-drawer knife block that can store 10-15 knives, depending on the size of the blade. It can fit in a standard drawer approximately 3 inches depth.

Unlike other knife blocks, Shenzhen 's has an improved design with a wider opening that has angled slots, which allows you better knife storage.

Other than that, it also has a few deeper slots that provide a better fit for larger knives. I personally have a lot of knives with different shapes and sizes and every one of them can fit smoothly in the knife block.

This knife block is a great way to store your knives If you don't have much counter space.

Also, it keeps your knives organized and there are no blades sticking out from the drawer.

The greatest thing about this knife block is that it's made from eco-friendly and bacteria resistant bamboo, like most of Shenzhen products.

Things I Liked

It is made from an eco-friendly and bacteria resistant bamboo

It has an improved design that has wider opening and angled slots for better knife storage

Things I Didn't Like

This is another knife block from Shenzhen that is made from bamboo veneer and wood core.

Just like the previous product, this one also has wider slots that allow you to store knives which have larger blades and it can store up to 19 knives including scissors and sharpening rod.

A new and improved design has angled slots that help you to handle and store your knives without any trouble. Other than that, it has a horizontal slot layout that puts less wear on the knife blade when it's being stored.

If you have some extra counter space than I personally suggest that you store your knives in this knife block. Other than the function that it has, it also has a great design and it can easily fit with the rest of your kitchen gadgets.

Things I Liked

It is made from bamboo veneer and wood core

Storing larger knives isn't a problem because this one also has wider slots for larger knives

It can store up to 19 knives and it also has a slot for scissors and sharpening rod

Slots are angled which provides easier knife storage

It has a great design that fits perfectly with the rest of the kitchen

It's safe for the children

Things I Didn't Like

It takes too much counter space

Spacing between slots is too close so when you fill every slot it doesn't look very presentable and you have trouble with finding knives

This is an innovative Swiss designed glass knife block that stores knives and makes them visible and easy to find.

It can store up to 18 knives with different shapes and sizes up to 8 inches long. The knives are easily placed and even easier removed.

Unlike traditional wooden knife blocks, this one doesn't take too much space on the counter because it is slim and well-balanced.

Because of the innovative design, it goes great with the rest of your kitchen gadgets. It's really easy to clean, you just need to take out the plastic top, run it through the dishwasher and then dry it.

Here's a little tip: If the kitchen block is too see-through you can decorate it with fake flower petals that will brighten up the kitchen counter a little bit.

Things I Liked

It has an innovative see-through design that makes knives visible and easy to find

Because it's slim it fits perfectly and it doesn't take too much space on the counter

It's well balanced and it can store up to 18 knives with different shapes and sizes

It's really easy to clean, all you have to do is to take out the plastic top and run it through the dishwasher and you're set to go

Things I Didn't Like

Smaller knives can't fit properly in the slot

Because the lid is made of plastic I have a constant fear that the knife block will fall down when I put out a knife

The Boker magnetic knife block is an innovative way to store your knives by making them visible all the time.

This knife block has seven wooden panels that contain magnets which allow knives to stick easily to the side of the knife block.

This innovative and high-quality designed wooden knife block can easily store up to 7 high-quality knives. The great thing about this product is that it has no slots which allow you to display your knives on the block by making them visible all the time on the counter.

Every side of the block has strong magnets that keep your knives safe.

Even though the magnets are strong, you can still take out the knife that you need without worrying that you will chip it.

Unlike other kitchen blocks that have slots that are hard to reach, with this one there is no trouble with cleaning.

It comes in three different colors which give you the opportunity to fit easier with other kitchen elements.

The colors are: olive, makassar, and black

Things I Liked

It has wooden panels that contain magnets that make storing knives easy

There are no slots so your knives are visible all the time on the counter

Things I Didn't Like

The Premio stainless steel knife block is made from a special blend of materials that give strength and better stability to the knives.

The exterior of this knife block has a modern design that will blend in well with your kitchen design whether it is modern, rustic or timeless and classic.

It has unique dual layer wave-slot design which allows knives to easily slide in and out without any abrasion from the sides which makes this knife block different from other knife blocks I've considered today.

Another great thing about Premio's stainless steel kitchen block is that it can easily fit up to 12 knives with different shapes and sizes because it has weighted bottom that is designed not to be prone to falling over.

Also, it is easy to clean, all you have to do is to run it under the water and you're set to go.

Things I Liked

It is made from special blend of materials that give strength and better stability to the knives

Exterior has a modern design that fits well with different types of kitchen elements

It has unique dual layer wave slot design that allows knives to slide in and out easily

Simple to clean, just run it under the water

It can fit up to 12 knives with different shapes and sizes

Things I Didn't Like

You can see only the grip of the knives because the blades are not visible

So, by my opinion I think that the best choice for the kitchen block is Shenzhen Universal Knife Block because it is made from great materials, it stays still when it is filled with knives and it looks good on your kitchen counter.

Barbara Whitney

For the last 20 years, I’ve been cooking, preparing, researching, and gathering recipes, tools, and knowledge about food and the way we prepare it. Raising two lively boys and spoiling one great husband later, it’s safe to say that I’ve optimized my kitchen to deliver the best possible meal, no matter the occasion.